Five dead children is definitely too many!

A round table entitled "1, 2, 3, fasten me securely!" was held in the premises of URI Soča, organized by the Safe Way Institute in cooperation with the Baby Center. The event was supported with active participation by M.Sc. Ivan Kapun, head of the Traffic Police Department of the General Police Administration (GPU), mag. Saša Jevšnik Kafol, deputy director of the RS Agency for Traffic Safety (AVP), Robert Sabol, paramedic, ITLS pediatric & adult instructor, UKC Ljubljana Ambulance Station, Selma Busovača, Cybex representative and Branko Marinič, Baby Center representative.

According to a study by the European Organization for Road Safety, Slovenia ranks among the top six countries in the European Union in terms of child safety over the past 10 years. "This can be a great recognition for kindergarten teachers, teachers, parents, many activities in state organizations and the non-governmental sector. Above all, the legislation that paid a lot of attention to the area of child safety," described the situation in Slovenia, Mr. Robert Staff. The Varna pot Institute has already included more than 200,000 children in preventive and educational programs. "I like to avoid statistics myself, because the number doesn't mean much. Only when we change the number to a first and last name and remember that it is one of us, even the number one can be a lot," said Mr. Headquarters.

Five dead children is definitely too many!

Despite the fact that Slovenia is at the very top of European countries in the consistent use of child car seats and we have achieved a high level of attachment through various initiatives, we are not yet where we would like to be. In the last six years, five children lost their lives on our roads, and 28 were seriously injured. It's not just about numbers on paper, it's about children with names, children who meant the world to someone. "Many times we have already faced the consequences of an accident where a child suffered serious injuries due to not using a car seat. Of the more than 30,000 interventions I have participated in, I successfully delete the majority – those where children were involved remain. So every time I drive past one of the accident sites, I relive the intervention," said Robert Sabol, B.Sc. zn. a rescuer who represented the UKC Ljubljana Rescue Station at the round table and also takes care of the training of firefighters and police officers who participate in rescues.

Vision ZERO as a commitment to complete safety on the roads

The event highlighted Vision ZERO, an ambitious international initiative to which Slovenia is also a signatory, which requires us to halve the number of deaths and serious injuries by 2030, and by 2050, the goal is that no more lives will be lost on the roads.

Zavod Varna pot, which is also one of the leading promoters of this vision in Slovenia, draws attention to the necessity of correct use of child car seats and the importance of responsible behavior in traffic with various preventive and educational programs. The ZERO vision is based on the belief that no death or serious injury on the roads is acceptable. By combining advanced technology and efforts to increase public awareness, this vision is moving step by step closer to reality.

"After the seat belt checks of passengers, the seat belt in Slovenia is as high as 95%. This year, we added a check on the use of child seats, and even here the results are good at first glance, as as many as 91 %s use them. Those who did not use seats and belts drove up to 5 kilometers away - but I should point out that most accidents happen right near home, where children suffer the worst consequences. A short journey is by no means an excuse that we don't need to use safety systems," explained mag. Saša Jevšnik Kafol, Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Agency of the Republic of Slovenia. The Pasavček project has also been operating within the framework of the Agency for the 20th year – The order is to always wear a seat belt, where they point out the importance of the appropriate use of child safety seats and the correct use of seat belts.

During routine checks, in addition to the use of seat belts in cars, police officers also check the use of child car seats and whether children are fastened in them. M.Sc. Ivan Kapun, head of the Traffic Police Department of the General Police Administration (GPU), sees the use of seat belts and other restraint systems as one of the most effective and simple ways we can take care of our safety. Parents would do anything for their children, but police data show that we still have a lot of room for more responsible behavior here. "We impose between 30,000-40,000 measures during the year for non-use of seat belts, as many as 4,000 for non-use of restraint systems, which also includes child car seats. This shows us that we still have a lot of work to do in terms of raising awareness," says M.Sc. Capon.

And this is where parents and grandparents come to the fore, who, by example, consistent and above all correct use of the appropriate child car seat, raise a new generation of drivers - those who will be able to actively live the Vision of ZERO.

All experts agreed that the correct and consistent use of child car seats is the key to preventing injuries to children in the event of traffic accidents.

Cybex Anoris T2 i-Size is an innovation that saves lives

Cybex Anoris T2 i-Size is the first car seat in the world that includes a built-in airbag specially designed to protect children. The airbag, installed in the front part of the safety shield, deploys in a fraction of a second in the event of a collision and creates a protective layer around the child's head, neck and upper body, which significantly reduces the possibility of injury. ADAC tests rated it as the safest seat on the market.

"The human body is anthropologically developed to "travel" at 6 km/h, as much as we can reach by walking. A child is not a miniature adult. The force acting on the child is even greater, the proportions of the body are different, the skeleton is not yet fully formed, nor are the muscle tissues. In the event of a collision, the loads are therefore all the more severe and the cervical spine is the one that suffers the most damage," explained rescuer Mr. Sable.

The development of the innovation is the result of several years of research and more than 1500 performed tests, which showed that Anoris T2 i-Size offers up to 50 % more safety than conventional car seats. Adapted from the automotive industry, the airbag technology provides comprehensive protection for children from 76 to 125 cm tall (approximately 15 months to 7 years). By introducing this seat, Cybex allows parents to offer their children the highest possible level of safety while driving. Ms. Selma Busovača observes that the market is undoubtedly changing, parents are well informed and know what is available. "None of us would buy a car today without airbags, and why should we have lower safety standards for our own children?" the representative of Cybex pointed out. According to their research, the biggest mistake parents make is moving their children into a bigger seat too quickly. "We are all proud that our child is progressing quickly, he is ahead of the curve in development and he is tall, but let's not be too hasty. Seats can only provide the safety they promise if they are used correctly. The instructions about the height and weight of the child for whom a particular car seat is suitable are there for a purpose," Mrs. Busovača.

Baby Center representative, Mr. Marinič, said at the end: "At Baby Center, we have a guideline that we thoroughly research all products related to the safety of children and only cooperate with top providers such as Cybex. With this, we bear a great social responsibility. Connecting with institutions that take care of children's safety is important for us, because despite our various functions in the company, we are parents in the first stage, who can help realize the Vision of ZERO. Baby Center has the largest market share in the segment of children's car seats, which is why it is even more aware of its socially responsible note. By connecting institutions that proactively work in the field of increasing the safety of children in traffic and with a selected offer of verified quality, they want to co-create the Vision of ZERO. That's why they went one step further and donated an additional 10 workshops in kindergartens, intended for education for educators, students and parents, as well as the safest Cybex Anoris T2 child car seat to the Institute for a safe journey.

"1, 2, 3, Pin Me Safe!" Event started as a round table of the Safe Way Institute and the Baby Center, but it outgrew it already during the organization, which shows the much-needed attention that needs to be given to raising awareness among the general public. The beginning of the new school year is approaching, the time when children will again be active participants in traffic - as pedestrians, cyclists or passengers in cars. As adults, we have the task of protecting them with the best quality equipment, and above all equip ourselves with knowledge and consistency in the use of safety devices. Technology and development are moving in the right direction, and it is up to us to use them to our advantage and to the advantage of future generations.